Staying relevant in the music industry for 20 or more years is no easy feat so when I see a band that can achieve that, I can not help but be impressed. Fall Out Boy released their first album back in 2002 and just a few weeks ago released their newest masterpiece, So Much (for) Stardust. This is the first album they have released since 2018 and is very reminiscent of their older albums in the way it returns to some of the things they became famous for: guitar riffs, catchy singalong choruses, and lyrics that are incredibly relevant to people’s current challenges.
Fall Out Boy has consistently been criticized for their shifts in sound between their albums. While some people, myself included, believe this is one of the key elements to their success, some say they cannot stick to one genre or sound. I on the other hand would argue that they change with the times and also where they are at as a band at the time. They are able to adapt their music to the current situation of the music industry, their band, and the world. Part of their shifts in sound may also be due to which band member, Stump or Wentz, wrote the lyrics or the music. For example, in making their 2005 album, they agreed that Wentz would write the lyrics and Stump would write the music. This process did not go well as it was said to still lead to countless arguments and the remaking of songs. The band has described their creative process as very difficult due to the sudden changes in the style of their music and disagreements among band members. They do admit that their process is very collaborative even when it does not go well. They often do not fully agree with or love what the others write in terms of lyrics or music, but they say that sometimes they just have to trust their band member and go with it. The band split in 2008 after receiving constant criticism for their changes in sound.
They made the comeback of ages in 2013 when they released their album “Save Rock and Roll”. Many felt like this was a massive step for them returning to the punk rock scene and losing some of the poppiness that they were often criticized for. Fall Out Boy collaborated with other groundbreaking artists and producers from a variety of genres, such as Big Sean and Elton John, meaning that they were able to reach many diverse genres without compromising their punk rock core. I believe this stems from their realization that, as Marcus Gladwell discussed in our third lecture, there is not always one answer to every problem because people all prefer different things. This enabled them to keep their identity in punk rock while also reaching a diverse audience. I also believe this is exemplified through their growth and adapting to the times.
I find it interesting how they discuss how their creative process has shifted. Wentz said in an interview about their newest album that they do not exactly divide up who writes lyrics and who writes music anymore. They take more of a best idea wins approach instead letting everyone propose ideas and choosing the one they all think is best. I think this changed approach has allowed them to continue in success and create their incredible new album, “So Much (for) Stardust”. It is definitely worth a listen for Fall Out Boys fans and non-fans alike.
Sources:
Fall Out Boy on 'So Much For Stardust,' Ethan Hawke Feature and Song Titles - Variety
Fall Out Boy Albums and Discography | AllMusic
Fall Out Boy - Reminding Us That The Creative Process Is A Difficult One (theodysseyonline.com)
Fall Out Boy: Song Writing Process - YouTube
I found this article interesting as I remember Fall Out Boy songs from my childhood, but I never did any digging into any information about the band. Them utilizing two different creatives to create their songs is an interesting dynamic that I'm surprised has worked out because of the tensions that it causes in bands normally. This makes things more impressive to me as they were able to withstand internal adversity and still create good music.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate you highlighting the idea that their style of music has been criticized for changing over the years. When I heard So Much (For) Stardust, I honestly thought it sounded much more like Patrick Stump's solo work than anything Fall Out Boy has put out before. You have done a very nice job describing their creative process and the necessity for them to work together to create music.
ReplyDeleteFall Out Boy has come under fire by the traditional pop punk community for changing their style recently. However, I see it like an evolution, rather than a change, which change the connotation of everything. Since Pete Wentz went to my high school, FOB was ingrained in my life since I was a young child. Great post!
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